Local & Regional News Briefs

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT)

Published
1:00 am EST, Friday, November 26, 2004

DANBURY

City man faces charges

in alleged assault

A 21 year old man was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer.

Police arrested
Michael L. McCrea
of Belmont Circle Thursday following a vehicle stop. McCrea was charged with interfering with a police officer, assault on a police officer, failure to appear in court, possession of marijuana, operating a vehicle under suspension, misuse of license plates, failure to wear a seatbelt, and breach of peace.

Two women with McCrea were also arrested.
Melissa Coons
, 27 of Harding Place and Cheryl Arella, 26 of E. Spring Street were both arrested for disorderly conduct. The two women were released on a written promise to appear and are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 3.

Michael Szewc
, 31, was charged Tuesday with reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a minor.

According to a police affidavit obtained, the child's burns resulted from something being laid on her face, such as a hot cloth. Her face was red and blistered, the affidavit said.

Szewc allegedly told police the baby was burned when he poured water on her head to clean her after she had vomited. But investigators say that could not have caused the burns. When police questioned his account, Szewc stormed out of the police department, police said.

Szewc pleaded not guilty Wednesday in New London Superior Court and was released on a $75,000 bail.

For two weeks, the O'Connors - who own a 4-year-old Rottweiler - have driven into town to get their mail because their carrier refuses to deliver the mail. Officials from the Enfield post office said they'll resume delivery after the family removes two signs from their front door and a cartoon tacked above the mailbox that pokes fun of mail carriers' fear of dogs.

The O'Connors call it a matter of free speech. They're willing to remove the cartoon, but the signs, which have been on the front door on and off for three years, will stay where they are.

"Who are they to tell me I can't have these signs up?" said
Robert O'Connor
, who rejected an option from postal officials to install a mailbox on the street, 30 feet from the front door.

Authorities said the burglars were lowering expensive LCD screens with straps from the atrium and stacking them with other equipment by exits at the
Neag School of Education
's Gentry Building.

The burglars apparently knew students were on Thanksgiving break, police said, but didn't think about the cleaning crew. The crew, which arrived around 4 a.m., discovered the burglars communicating through wireless devices, authorities said.

A custodian who came face-to-face with one of the thieves ran and called police.

NEW LONDON

Casinos market holiday

to Asian customers

Connecticut casinos are hitting the jackpot with a Thanksgiving tradition that includes Pai Gow poker and baccarat.

Friday is one of the biggest gaming days of the year and casino officials are expecting big crowds. Non-Asian customers usually start showing up after eating their Thanksgiving Day dinners, managers said.